Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe first drive review

We're standing next to the new Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe, drinking in the details after a decent drive out of Melbourne. It looks mean, scowling away at the world with its gaping intakes, focused headlamps and gloss black highlights that replace bright chrome details across its flanks.

The exhausts tick away noisily, clicking through the serenity on a cool but clear winter's day.

It's dry at lunchtime, but we've had to treat the big-hearted 'Benz as though we are driving on ice. A green canopy over roads in the Bunyip National Park means the surface is still damp with morning dew accompanied by a smattering of leaf litter that doesn't help our cause. The moss-green sheen across the hotmix warns traction will be at a premium.

That's a problem when you have 375kW and 700Nm twisting the rear wheels. This Mercedes is Germany's answer to the Shelby Mustang, an overpowered, Coke-bottle hipped brute with a tail-happy attitude that loves nothing more than to paint thick black lines across the exit of every corner. Our earlier track test of the coupe revealed this is riotous fun at Sydney Motorsport Park.

But it's a huge handful in this damp forest. Touch the throttle on the exit of a corner and its hips shimmy like a kitten ready to pounce, threatening to spit you off either side of the road. Mindful of the conditions, we breathe on the skinny pedal exiting a fourth-gear sweeper only for the car to slew sideways – all with the stability control firmly engaged in its most vigilant setting.

In short, the new C63 Coupe is a beast.

Dry roads put the car on much better terms, allowing you to make the most of that soaring 4.0-litre motor, seven-speed paddle-shift transmission and fat 285mm-wide Michelins to drive forward with determination. The new "hot vee" twin-turbocharged V8 sounds magnificent here, bellowing under load and crackling with each lift of the throttle, whomping through every gearchange with a pyrotechnic burp.

While the ride is a little firmer than ideal in country Victoria, its taut suspension settings contribute to sharp reactions that join quick, well-weighted steering and powerful brakes to offer more precision than its predecessor.

Bruiser: The new Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe. Photo: Supplied

It's a hell of a car. But you'd hope so, given its $162,400 pricetag. That makes this the dearest coupe in its class, costing thousands more than the (admittedly slower) Lexus RC F and BMW M4.

The two-door C63 is priced $6500 higher than its sedan sibling, which is decent value as it looks much better than the narrow-bodied four-door variant. A unique five-link rear suspension setup and 50mm wider track lend more purchase and presence than the lighter sedan, while styling pinched from the elegant S-Class Coupe translates beautifully to this more compact model.

This AMG is loaded up with a decent level of kit for the cash, adding features such as an electric sunroof and dynamic LED front lights to high-end C-Class Coupe fare such as leather trim, climate control, smart keys, a 13-speaker Burmester surround sound stereo and driver assistance package including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane keeping assistance and active blind spot assistance.

On the inside, the AMG treatment includes well-bolstered sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel trimmed in leather and suede-like microfibre, an analogue clock designed by IWC, head-up display and illuminated door sills as well as Mercedes' 'Air Balance' package with ionisation, perfuming and improved filtration.

It's a more luxurious cabin than that offered by prestige rivals, and a nicer place to be during long drives. Sure, there's a little too much tyre roar at speed and not enough room in the back, but those compromises come with the territory.

Mercedes offers a choice of three wheel designs free-of-charge, all with 19-inch front and 20-inch rear diameters that contribute significantly to the machine's muscle car stance. The standard wheel (pictured) with black spokes, silver rims and a decent amount of "dish" is our pick – and probably AMG's too, given that it recently just selected the same split five-spoke design for its hardcore Mercedes-AMG GT R supercar.

While those features are nice to have, few will weigh on a buyer's mind when considering Mercedes' new performance car. Instead, the car's cult status, bruising looks and mind-bending performance will present a more cohesive argument in favour of this compelling coupe.

For cashed-up buyers looking for a two-door performance car, it might be tougher to say no.